Fishing Deep

[Robert Riley]

I'm from Illinois, I flip banks. I fished a tourney last weekend and all we could find were fish sitting on top of stumps in 20-35 feet of water. 

 

How do I get them in my boat. 

[RB 77]

Out here in the west if you can't fish deep, there are a lot of days you ain't catching! A variety of techniques will work but I would say the number one all time producing technique for me (and quite a few others) is drop shot. I know, I know many people dread the idea, but trust me it’s saved the day for me more than a handful of times. Low and slow. Weight for is dependent and depth and current, usually between 1/4 - 1/2 oz. with 3/8th being used the most. Always a size 2 gammie split shot drop shot hook. I usually use a 4.5" or 6" finesse worm. Darker colors for stained water, lighter and translucent colors for clear water. Less is more. I will let that rig set as long as possible without moving, shaking, dragging it. Sometimes after what seems like an eternity I will give the rig a quick pop and it will result in a strike. Other times they just plain eat it on the dead stick.

[A-Jay]

Drop Shot ~

 

Try a Rage Craw . . .It's almost Fool Proof.

 

I said Al-Most.

 

A-Jay

[maryhugh3274]

The drop shot is a very slow and boring presentation IMO, but does catch'em..you could also try a tube jig, as this works on smallies up north very well...good luck

[bigbill]

Your not alone. I was a fish out of water at 30' in a boat.

I got kicked by people we were with.(live bait) I need to listen up here.

[Catt]

I'm from Illinois, I flip banks. I fished a tourney last weekend and all we could find were fish sitting on top of stumps in 20-35 feet of water.

How do I get them in my boat.

IDK! Sounds like Rinky Dink to me!

[Senko lover]

Dropshot, texas rig, tube, shakeyhead, jig, all proven at catching both shallow and deep bass.

 

Get to work!

[Robert Riley]

We tried bombing 10XDs and then dragging big jigs, produced nothing. The next day I tried dropshotting and it didn't work so well, provided I've never tried it before. 

[WRB]

How do you know what type of fish you metering are?, The marks could be carp, catfish, bass etc.

Lots of lure choices that are effective at 25-35 feet; jigging spoons, tail spins, jigs, T-rig soft plastics, swimbaits, scroungers, jigging a lipless crankbait, etc.

Tom

[Raul]

You saw fish but that does´t mean those fish are bass.

[papajoe222]

I'm with WRB on this. If it was a lake I'm familiar with I might opt for a drop shot, but you can waste a lot of time doing so. A jigging spoon or stroking a jig are great reaction presentations and a swimbait on a1/2oz. jig head or a spinnerbait slow rolled, will cover a lot of water in a short period of time. Tough presentations to master during a tourney though.

[einscodek]

ditto with last 3 posts.. and I'm in the dropshot is boring camp as well but understand if $$$ is on the line it may have to be done but not before i try other lures

[MrBigFishSC]

I'm not in the drop shotting is slow or boring camp. If I know bass are suspended in an area and I drop shot the time to trigger a bite is no less than any other bait. If they aren't interested I will move on to something else.

[Lendiesel22]

Have to get one to eat to make sure they are bass, after mystery 1 is solved what is most important? Getting something down to them and presenting it to find out what is making them tick. I would test a carolina rig craw for sure. If you c rig, t rig, and drop shot and still have not gotten one to eat i would question the species and decide how much more time is too much.